1902.] H. G. Raverty— The Invention of Chess and Backgammon. 51 
succeeding one. For example ; on the first square one grain of wheat 
on the second two, on the third, four, and on the fourth, eight, and so 
on; and when the number of squares on the cloth shall have been 
computed after this manner, be pleased, 0 Rail to command that that 
quantity of wheat be made over to me.” 
When Rai Bhalit heard this, as he supposed, modest request, he 
exclaimed to those present in his assembly, in the most contemptuous 
manner: “I was desirous of bestowing upon him something of great 
value, and he has instead, merely asked for the most insignificant and 
paltry thing possible ! ” To this Sahsih replied : “This is the request 
that I desire to make, if the Rai shall be pleased to grant it, I do not 
desire anything more, and shall be quite satisfied with that.” The Rai, 
who imagined he had gone out of iiis wits, commanded that what he had 
asked for should be given to him. But when the revenue officials 
began to make their computation, in order to carry out the Rai’s 
commands, they, in a great fright, despatched one of their number to 
his presence, who represented saying: “ In the whole of our country 
such a quantity of wheat cannot be obtained as would be required to 
carry out the Rai’s commands respecting Sahsih.” When Rai Bhalit 
heard this statement, he was filled with amazement, and could not 
credit it; and he commanded that all the revenue officials should be 
summoned before him, and show how they arrived at, as he conceived, 
such an absurd conclusion. 
When the revenue officials, with very long faces, appeared before 
him, he required them to show how they made out that there was such 
difficulty, nay impossibility, in complying with what Sahsih had asked 
for; and what they thought it would be advisable to do under the 
circumstances. They replied, that if the wheat produce of the whole 
world could be collected together, it would not come up to the quantity 
required to carry out the Ra^’s command. On hearing this, Bhalit was 
still more amazed than before, and lie felt certain that they could not 
be speaking the truth ; and he commanded that they should proceed to 
prove their statement clearly and fully. A number of arithmeticians 
accordingly assembled together for the purpose; and after making their 
calculations, declared that it was beyond the power of anyone to comply 
with Sahsih’s request. The way in which they proceeded to prove this 
was, that, having placed one grain of wheat on the first square, and 
doubling the number each time, when they reached the sixteenth, it was 
proved that the quantity then amounted to 32,760 grains of wheat, 
which is equal to 5 sers ; 1 and when the nineteenth square was reached, 
1 A weight varying from one pound to one pound fourteen ounces in different 
parts. 
